Statutes, regulations, rules and constitutions
How to cite a federal statute (U.S. Code)
Cite a federal statute to the United States Code: title number, “U.S.C.”, the section sign, the section number and any subsection, then the year of the Code edition in parentheses.
Use “§§” for more than one section, and put the act’s name in front when the reader knows the law by that name.
12 real examples
Each citation is printed as the book prints it, from an authority the book checked against its source.
42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1) (2024).
- Title and code
- 42 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 2000e-2
- Subsection
- (a)(1)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2 (Unlawful employment practices) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), July 2, 1964)Source (govinfo.gov)
8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) (2024).
- Title and code
- 8 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 1101
- Subsection
- (a)(15)(H)(i)(b)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 8 U.S.C. § 1101 (Definitions) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), June 27, 1952)Source (govinfo.gov)
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e to 2000e-17 (2024).
- Title and code
- 42 U.S.C.
- Section
- §§ 2000e
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e to 2000e-17 (Title VII, subchapter VI, Equal Employment Opportunities) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), July 2, 1964)Source (govinfo.gov)
28 U.S.C. § 1 (2024).
- Title and code
- 28 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 1
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 28 U.S.C. § 1 (Number of justices; quorum) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), June 25, 1948)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
28 U.S.C. § 294(b) (2024).
- Title and code
- 28 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 294
- Subsection
- (b)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 28 U.S.C. § 294 (Assignment of retired Justices or judges to active duty) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), June 25, 1948)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
5 U.S.C. § 3105 (2024).
- Title and code
- 5 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 3105
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 5 U.S.C. § 3105 (Appointment of administrative law judges) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), Sept. 6, 1966)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1)–(2) (2024).
- Title and code
- 28 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 1332
- Subsection
- (a)(1)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 28 U.S.C. § 1332 (Diversity of citizenship; amount in controversy; costs) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), June 25, 1948)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
48 U.S.C. § 1424-1(a)(2) (2024).
- Title and code
- 48 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 1424-1
- Subsection
- (a)(2)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 48 U.S.C. § 1424-1(a)(2) (U.S. Congress (United States Code, 2024 ed.), Oct. 30, 2004)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands § 3, 48 U.S.C. § 1561 (2024).
- Code
- Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands
- Section
- § 3
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands § 3, 48 U.S.C. § 1561 (U.S. Congress (United States Code, 2024 ed.), July 22, 1954)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
I.R.C. § 501(c)(3) (2024).
- Code
- I.R.C.
- Section
- § 501
- Subsection
- (c)(3)
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 26 U.S.C. § 501 / I.R.C. § 501 (Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), Aug. 16, 1954)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
15 U.S.C. § 1 (2024).
- Title and code
- 15 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 1
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 15 U.S.C. § 1 (Sherman Act § 1) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), July 2, 1890)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
1 U.S.C. § 7 (2024).
- Title and code
- 1 U.S.C.
- Section
- § 7
- Edition year
- (2024)
The authority
- 1 U.S.C. § 7 (Marriage) (U.S. Code (OLRC; official edition printed by GPO), Dec. 13, 2022)Source (govinfo.gov)
Where the book teaches this
Where the book teaches this
The full rule, its exceptions and the reasons for it are in these sections.
- 1.5 Location: does the cite lead to the passage?
- 4.5 Sections, subsections, articles and clauses
- 5.3 Id.: the authority you just cited
- 6.5 Law-review footnotes: roman, italics and small capitals
- 7.8 Judges and officials: titles in text and citations
- 9.4 Reproducing the law you cite: statutory addenda
- 12.8 Puerto Rico, the territories and the District
- 12.12 Errors to catch